Systems and methods for coherent monitoring

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for intelligently monitoring environments, classifying objects within such environments, detecting events within such environments, receiving and propagating input concerning image information from multiple users in a collaborative environment, identifying and responding to situational abnormalities or situations of interest based on such detections and/or user inputs.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Applications Ser. No. 62/799,292 filed Jan. 31, 2019, thecontent of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into thepresent disclosure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for coherent andintelligent environment monitoring, and some particular embodimentsrelate to novel systems and methods for orchestrating inputs frommultiple sources to construct a coordinated and coherent observationconsumption environment.

BACKGROUND

Conventional systems and methods for monitoring or surveilling regionsof interest do not include effective orchestration and coordinationtools, nor do they provide the granular insights that would otherwiseinform effective and timely decision-making in critical scenarios.Despite extensive research and development efforts, current systems andmethods for monitoring environments do not enable effective contentnavigation, feature detection, object detection, event detection,situational awareness recognition, classification, insights, nor and useof inputs from multiple sources.

Moreover, today's monitoring systems are not useful across a range ofapplications where technical monitoring solutions would otherwise bevaluable (e.g., agriculture and land use applications, aviation,environment, marine, public safety and disaster relief, rail,recreation, roads and highways, space, surveying, search and rescueapplications, farming and ranching operations, energy deployments,sports, traffic monitoring, trespass and security applications, etc.).Accordingly, flexible solutions for meeting such demands are needed.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, a system for intelligently monitoringan environment is provided, comprising: one or more processors and amemory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the system to: obtain image information representingan environment; provide the image information for display on a displayassociated with at least one device; identify, based on the imageinformation, one or more discrete objects observed within theenvironment; and classify, based on the image information in comparisonwith an object template, the one or more discrete objects. In someembodiments the systems of the present disclosure may be configured tofurther generate a graphic representing the one or more discrete objectsobserved within the environment, and/or display the graphic as anoverlay on top of the displayed image information.

In some embodiments, the graphic may be provided over a location (or aportion of the location) on the displayed image informationcorresponding to the location of the discrete object within theenvironment at the time the image information was captured. The graphicmay represent a classification of the one or more discrete objectsobserved within the environment, and/or comprise a visual attributeproviding an indication of a confidence score associated with theidentified discrete object. In some embodiments, the systems of thepresent disclosure may further track one or more of locationinformation, path information, and heat signature information associatedwith the one or more discrete objects over a period of time; and/ordetermine, based on the tracking, that an event condition associatedwith the discrete object has been satisfied. Similarly, the systems ofthe present disclosure may determine that a notification conditionassociated with a discrete object has been satisfied, and/or modify thegraphic based on one or more of the classification, the event condition,and the notification condition determination. The systems of the presentdisclosure may provide, responsive to a user selection of the graphic, amodified view of a portion of the image information corresponding to acropped zone within the environment surrounding the identified discreteobject.

The systems of the present disclosure may further be configured toestimate a real-world dimensions of a portion of at least one of theidentified discrete objects. In some embodiments, systems of the presentdisclosure may provide, responsive to a user selection of at least twopoints corresponding to locations within the image information providedfor display on a device, an estimated real-world distance between the atleast two points.

In some embodiments, systems of the present disclosure may provide theimage information for display on at least two devices operated by twodifferent users; and/or may receive, from one of the at least twodevices (e.g., under the control of one of the at least two users), atagging command corresponding to at least one of the discrete objectsidentified in the image information; and/or provide, at the others ofthe at least to devices, an indication of the tagging command.

In some embodiments, the systems of the present disclosure may compute anumber of discrete objects of a single classification identified withina portion of the image information; and/or compute a confidence scorefor the classification of the at least one identified discrete object.

In accordance with one embodiment, a method for intelligently monitoringan environment is provided comprising the steps of: obtaining imageinformation representing an environment; providing the image informationfor display on a display associated with at least one device;identifying, based on the image information, one or more discreteobjects observed within the environment; and classifying, based on theimage information in comparison with an object template, the one or morediscrete objects. In some embodiments the methods of the presentdisclosure involve further generating a graphic representing the one ormore discrete objects observed within the environment, and/or displayingthe graphic as an overlay on top of the displayed image information.

In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure may involvethe step of providing a graphic as an overlay over a location (or aportion of the location) on the displayed image informationcorresponding to the location of the discrete object within theenvironment at the time the image information was captured. The graphicmay represent a classification of the one or more discrete objectsobserved within the environment, and/or comprise a visual attributeproviding an indication of a confidence score associated with theidentified discrete object. In some embodiments, the methods of thepresent disclosure involve tracking one or more of location information,path information, and heat signature information associated with the oneor more discrete objects over a period of time; and/or determining,based on the tracking, that an event condition associated with thediscrete object has been satisfied. Similarly, the methods of thepresent disclosure may involve determining that a notification conditionassociated with a discrete object has been satisfied, and/or modifyingthe graphic based on one or more of the classification, the eventcondition, and the notification condition determination. The methods ofthe present disclosure may, in some embodiments, involve providing,responsive to a user selection of the graphic, a modified view of aportion of the image information corresponding to a cropped zone withinthe environment surrounding the identified discrete object.

The methods of the present disclosure may involve estimating areal-world dimensions of a portion of at least one of the identifieddiscrete objects. In some embodiments, methods of the present disclosuremay involve providing, responsive to a user selection of at least twopoints corresponding to locations within the image information providedfor display on a device, an estimated real-world distance between the atleast two points.

In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure may involveproviding the image information for display on at least two devicesoperated by at least two different users; and/or may involve receiving,from one of the at least two devices (e.g., under the control of one ofthe at least two users), a tagging command corresponding to at least oneof the discrete objects identified in the image information; and/orproviding, at the others of the at least to devices, an indication ofthe tagging command.

In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure may involvecomputing a number of discrete objects of a single classificationidentified within a portion of the image information; and/or computing aconfidence score for the classification of the at least one identifieddiscrete object.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the systemsand/or methods disclosed herein, as well as the methods of operation andfunctions of the related elements of structure and the combination ofparts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent uponconsideration of the following description and the appended claims withreference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however,that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and descriptiononly and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singularform of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain features of various embodiments of the present technology areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. A betterunderstanding of the features and advantages of the technology will beobtained by reference to the following detailed description that setsforth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of thetechnology are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an example intelligent interactive interface throughwhich the advanced consumption, insight and interactivity technologiesof the present disclosure may be provided.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example intelligent interactive interface throughwhich the advanced consumption, insight and interactivity technologiesof the present disclosure may be provided.

FIG. 1C illustrates a schematic representation of an examplearchitecture of an intelligent monitoring system in accordance withvarious embodiments.

FIG. 1D illustrates a schematic representation of an examplearchitecture of various sub-elements of the intelligent monitoringsystem of FIG. 1C, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 1E illustrates a schematic representation of an examplearchitecture of various sub-elements of the intelligent monitoringsystem of FIG. 1C, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 1F illustrates a schematic representation of an examplearchitecture of various sub-elements of the intelligent monitoringsystem of FIG. 1C, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of various features that may beimplemented in connection with a user interface through which theadvanced consumption, insight and interactivity technologies of thepresent disclosure may be provided.

FIG. 2B extends the illustration provided in FIG. 2A to illustratevarious additional example features, including event flagging, that maybe implemented in connection with a user interface through which theadvanced consumption, insight and interactivity technologies of thepresent disclosure may be provided.

FIG. 2C extends the illustration provided in FIG. 2A to illustratevarious additional example features, including event flagging, that maybe implemented in connection with a user interface through which theadvanced consumption, insight and interactivity technologies of thepresent disclosure may be provided.

FIG. 2D extends the illustration provided in FIG. 2A to illustratevarious additional example features, including event flagging, that maybe implemented in connection with a user interface through which theadvanced consumption, insight and interactivity technologies of thepresent disclosure may be provided.

FIG. 3A is a flow chart illustrating example operations that may beperformed to effectuate intelligent monitoring in accordance withvarious embodiments.

FIG. 3B is a flow chart illustrating example operations that may beperformed to effectuate intelligent monitoring in accordance withvarious embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of an example computersystem in which any of the implementations described herein may beimplemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A claimed solution rooted in computer technology overcomes problemsspecifically arising in the realm of computer technology. In variousimplementations, a computing system is configured to provide aninsight-driven monitoring environment in which the intelligenttransformation of aggregated observational detections may informsituational decision-making in a streamlined, collaborative, andcoherent manner.

Intelligent Monitoring System

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an intelligentmonitoring system in which data from various sources may be aggregatedto generate intelligent insights about an environment being surveilled.The intelligent monitoring system may be configured to provide multipleusers with a collaborative and interactive interface for observingstreamlined indications of intelligent insights, and engaging inon-the-fly review, navigation, tagging, flagging, evaluation, and otherconsumption of such surveillance information.

Before discussing the inter-workings of intelligent monitoring systemsof the present disclosure, an example interface conveying exampleinformation made available through such systems is provided for context.In particular, FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate example interfaces thatprovide context and nomenclature for various features disclosed herein.Such example user interfaces that may be provided via the systems of thepresent disclosure, and depict an example of how the advancedconsumption, insight and interactivity technologies of the instantdisclosure may be presented in various applications.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example of an intelligent interactive interface400 that may be implemented in connection with systems of the presentdisclosure. Although various aspects will be discussed in more detailwith respect to FIGS. 2A-2D, FIG. 1A depicts a symbolic example ofintelligent insight information that may be provided in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, an intelligentinteractive interface 400 may include a content pane 410 for displayingraw or augmented video content collected by one or more sensorsobserving the recorded environment. The systems of the presentdisclosure may derive geographic information corresponding to therecorded environment, and simultaneously (in real-time or nearreal-time) populate a map pane 440 with map content that corresponds tothe region of real world space being viewed in the content pane 410. Asshown in map pane 440, the systems of the present disclosure may providemap information that corresponds to a larger landscape than presented incontent pane 410 to give a user greater context for what they areviewing in the content pane. As further shown, map pane 440 may providean outline of the geographic region within the larger mapping thatcorresponds to the region shown in content pane 410 in a given instance.

The systems of the present disclosure may provide automated detectionsof objects, events, or other observations based on video content, othercontent available to the system, or a combination of both. For instance,as shown in FIG. 1A, insights pane 450 may provide one or moreindications of insights generated by the system. In the example shown,the systems of the present disclosure may present an indication of anumber of objects (here, windmills, animals, vehicles, buildings, andrivers) observed within the scene being played back via content pane410. Graphical display elements associated with each such object may begenerated and dynamically provided for display as an overlay on top ofcorresponding objects as the video content is played back.

For instance, in the example shown, circle shaped graphical displayelements may be provided to overlay detected windmills in the scene,star shaped graphical display elements may be provided to overlaydetected animals in the scene, square shaped graphical display elementsmay be provided to overlay detected vehicles in the scene, triangleshaped graphical display elements may be provided to overlay detectedbuildings in the scene, and diamond shaped graphical display elementsmay be provided to overlay detected rivers in the scene. Though theforegoing is provided as an example, it will be appreciated upon reviewof the remaining disclosure that such graphical display elements mayleverage any visual attributes (not merely shape, as in this example) toconvey information about detections made by the intelligent systems ofthe present disclosure.

Also as shown in FIG. 1A, the systems of the present disclosure mayprovide on-the-fly GPS information as well as dimensional informationabout the scene. By way of example, insight pane 410 may present GPScoordinates for the center of the image being displayed through contentpane 410, or GPS coordinates corresponding to the location in the sceneover which the user's cursor is hovering, or GPS coordinatescorresponding to one or more selected objects or location in the scenebeing displayed through content pane 410. Further, the systems of thepresent disclosure may provide on-the-fly timing details, culturaldetails, recording details (e.g., viewing angle), and/or event data(discussed in further detail herein).

Also as shown in FIG. 1A, the systems of the present disclosure mayprovide a graphic representation of one or more insights detected orgenerated by the system. For instance, a histogram chart displaying acount of total detections within a scene, or a count of a particulartype of object found within the scene throughout the video segment maybe shown in timeline pane 430. The histogram chart may dynamicallychange to reflect selections by the user. For example, if the user hadselected only the “Animals” object type, the histogram may reflect acount of Animal detections within the video content during predeterminedincrements of time (e.g., 5 second increments, etc.).

To enable a collaborative consumption experience, the systems of thepresent disclosure may be configured to provide an intelligentinteractive interface to multiple users, and allow selections and otherinput from one user to be viewed or viewable on-the-fly by another user.This way, multiple users can review a surveillance feed focused ondifferent objects or events of interest, and each may propagate theirinput to the system such that the input from all users may be viewableby other users. The system may also implement permissions to limit whichinput information from which users is available to which other users.Many other features of the disclosed technology may be made availablethrough an intelligent interactive interface such as the exampleinterface shown, or in other exemplary interfaces, as will becomeapparent upon review of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example interactive user interface layout thatmay include, inter alia, a content pane 410, a playback control pane420, a timeline pane 430, a map pane 440, and/or an insight pane 450.FIGS. 1C-1F herein may be discussed with reference to the interactiveuser interface 400 of FIG. 1B, for ease of description, but it should beappreciated that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited tothe depicted embodiments or interfaces, and that different arrangementsand variations of the same fall squarely within the scope presentdisclosure.

FIG. 1C. illustrates an example architecture for an intelligentmonitoring system 100 in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As shown, system 100 may include one or more userdevices 110 operatively coupled to one or more external resource(s) 600and/or one or more client computing devices 800 by one or more networkcommunication links 190 through network 700. Device 110 may include anyone or more computing devices, including, in some embodiments, one ormore servers that host the intelligent monitoring technologies of thepresent disclosure, and make the same accessible to users of clientcomputing devices 800, which may be disparately located. As shown,devices 110 may embody machine readable-instructions 114 which, whenexecuted by one or more processors 112, effectuate one or more featuresof the technology disclosed herein.

In some embodiments, device 110 may make some or all of the technologydisclosed herein accessible to multiple users via one or more clientcomputing devices 800 via network 700 (e.g., by communicating andexchanging data with one another over one or more network communicationlinks 190). The client computing devices 800 may any type of clientcomputer such as a workstation computer, a laptop computer, a tabletcomputer, a mobile phone, or other client computing device that has oris operatively coupled to a display, e.g., a video/multimedia display.

As shown in FIG. 1C, machine-readable instructions 114 may include,among other components, an acquisition component 200, a userinteractivity and interface (UII) component 300, and an intelligentinsight engine 500. Each of these may be in communication with oneanother, as well as with external resources 600 and client computingdevices 800, and be configured to coherently operate in concert with oneanother to effectuate the technology of the present disclosure. Each isdiscussed in turn below.

Data Acquisition

Data acquisition is facilitated by acquisition component 200.Acquisition component 200 may be configured to obtain information anddata from any one or more sources. Acquisition component 200 may beconfigured to operate on or otherwise pre-process such data, asnecessary, such that the data is transformed into the requisite formatrequired or desired for further operations thereupon by other elementsof system 100 (including operations on such data by one or more of UIIcomponent 300, and intelligent insight engine 500).

The information and data obtained by acquisition component 200 mayinclude video data, audio data, image data, heat signature date,location data, temperature data, cultural data, user inputted data,pattern recognition data, object identification data, map data, or anyother type of data, including any metadata that may be embedded therein,that may be relevant to a user of intelligent monitoring system 100. Forexample, referring to FIG. 1D, acquisition component 200 may includevideo acquisition logic 210, map acquisition logic 220, user inputacquisition logic 230, external resource (ER) acquisition logic 240,and/or client computing device (CCD) acquisition logic 250.

Video acquisition logic 210 is configured to obtain or receive image,video, and/or audio data, and to make it accessible for use by UIIcomponent 300 for display and/or for use by intelligent insight engine500 for analysis and further processing. Such image data, video data,and or audio data may include various metadata including, for example,GPS data, altitude data, capture parameter data, or any other dataassociated with the location being recorded within the video, image, oraudio data and/or the location from which the video, image, or audiodata was captured.

Map acquisition logic 220 is configured to obtain or receive map data,and to further make it accessible for use by UII component 300 fordisplay and/or for use by intelligent insight engine 500 for analysisand further processing. Map data may include, for example,multi-dimensional mapping information, including map data provided by anexternal resource 600 (FIG. 1C) such as Google Maps, MapQuest, or otherprovider of road, ocean, space, or other terrain mapping. Additionallyor alternatively, map data may be generated by another element of system100 (not shown).

User input acquisition logic 230 is configured to obtain or receive dataentered by a user via a user interface of system 100. External resource(ER) acquisition logic 240 is configured to obtain or receive data fromany one or more external resources relevant to a particular deployment,and may further make such data accessible for use by UII component 300for display and/or for use by intelligent insight engine 500 foranalysis and further processing. Client computing device (CCD)acquisition logic 250 may is configured to obtain or receive inputs orother data from one or more connected client computing devices 800(e.g., prompted by user inputs via multiple client computing devices ina collaborative environment). As shown in FIG. 1C, acquisition component200 is connected with UII component 300 and intelligent insight engine500.

Interfacing and Interactivity

FIG. 1E illustrates an example architecture of a UII component 300 thatmay be implemented in connection with the example intelligent monitoringsystem depicted in FIG. 1C, in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the present disclosure. UII component 300 may be configured togenerate an interactive user interface for display at one or more clientcomputing devices 800, and for enabling a user to engage with thetechnology of the present disclosure.

Through an interactive user interface 400, UII component 300 mayprovide: (i) a representation of data obtained by acquisition component200 (or otherwise derived by system 100), (ii) a representation ofinsights about such data generated by or derived from intelligentinsights engine 500, (iii) a representation of information provided byor derived from input contributed by one or more users operating the oneor more client computing devices 800, and/or (iv) a representation ofone or more interactivity options available to users (e.g., a userviewing the interface as displayed on a display of a client computingdevice 800).

Such representations may include graphic or textual display elements(e.g., to convey one or more of an insight generated by intelligentinsight engine 500, to convey options available to a user, or to conveyany other observations or information obtained, in whole or in part, viaexternal resources 600 and/or client computing devices 800). Suchdisplay elements may be static or dynamic, selectable or unselectable,and presented adjacent to or as overlay relative to other content, text,or graphics provided for presentation to a user through the interactiveuser interface 400. UII component 300 may be configured to provide, viathe interactive user interface 400, various options for selecting whichof the available information should be viewed when, and in whicharrangement.

As shown, UII component 300 of FIG. 1E may include content orchestrationlogic 310, display element logic 320, consumption control logic 330,user prompted (UP) object tagging logic 340, UP event tagging logic 350,UP flagging logic 360, UP search logic 370, and UP dimension selectionlogic 380, among other logic elements 390.

Content orchestration logic 310 retrieves content acquired byacquisition component 200, and coordinates coherent presentation of suchcontent through interactive user interface 400. Content orchestrationlogic 310 may operate on such content to ensure that scale, resolution,perspective (e.g., viewing angle), and other viewing parameterobjectives are satisfied in connection with presentation throughinteractive user interface 400. Content orchestration logic 310 mayoperate on such content to ensure that correspondence between differentrepresentations of related data are aligned.

For example, content orchestration logic 310 may retrieve video contentcomprising a video of an area being monitored, as well as retrieve mapcontent comprising a map representation of the same area being monitored(or a larger area encompassing the monitored area), and coordinate thepresentation of map data in map pane 440 and video data in content pane410 such that the mapped region shown in map pane 440 relates to themonitored area in the video data that is presented in content pane 410.Content orchestration logic 310 may identify the geographic boundariesassociated with the region of space being presented through content pane410, and determine the corresponding boundaries in the map view shown inmap pane 440. Such boundaries may be reflected by one or more graphicaldisplay elements presented with (or as an overlay upon) the map datapresented in map pane 440.

For example, if the video content presented in content pane 410 depictsa 1-mile×1-mile geographic region, and map pane 440 depicts a10-mile×10-mile map encompassing the 1-mile×1-mile region shown in thecontent pane 410, the content orchestration logic 310 may generate andprovide a display element within map pane 440 in the form of a box oroutline circumscribing the location of the 1-mile×1-mile geographicregion shown in the content pane 410.

In some embodiments, the map data represented in map pane 440 may be twodimensional, while the video content being presented in content pane 410may include higher dimensional data. For instance, video content may bethree-dimensional and may have been recorded at a unique angle. Indeedin instances where a video was recorded by a sensor attached to a movingobject, the resulting video content item (e.g., the video file) mayinclude multiple frames capturing images of the same area from differentangles at different times. Moreover, in advance video recordingimplementations, the orientation and/or position of the sensoryequipment itself may be adjustable relative to the moving object towhich it is affixed.

Details of such content capture parameters may be embedded withincontent retrieved from acquisition component 200, and contentorchestration logic 310 may use such details to accomplish appropriatetransformations and translations of recorded content to compute anddetermine correspondence between map data and content data (e.g., forpurposes of delineating boundaries, as noted above). In particular,content orchestration logic 310 may be configured to utilize yaw, pitch,roll, angle, distance, pointing direction, and/or other parameters ofthe sensor (and/or object to which such sensor is affixed) inidentifying geographic boundaries associated with a sensorsfield-of-view and/or the portion of the field-of-view being representedin content pane 410 at any given moment during content playback.

Content orchestration logic 310 may be configured to operatecontinuously, periodically, on a frame-by-frame basis for video data, orwith any degree of regularity required for a given application. Contentorchestration logic 310 may be further responsive to user input,including but not limited to, (i) user selection of content from arepository of content items, (ii) interface arrangement and sizeadjustments, (iii) applied filters or cropping selections, (iv) displaydevice operation capabilities, and the like.

Referring back now to FIG. 1E, UII component 300 may further beconfigured, via display element logic 320, to provide one or more visualindications of one or more insights, observations, or information aboutthe content being viewed or reviewed by a user operating the interface.In some embodiments, display element logic 320 may generate and/orprovide one or more graphical or textual display elements associatedwith the content or other information being presented. Such graphical ortextual display elements may be presented to convey one or more insightsprovided by intelligent insight engine 500 with respect to the contentbeing presented, one or more observations made and inputted by a userwith respect to the content being presented, or any other informationobtained by system 100 with respect to the content being presented.

For instance, the graphical or textual display elements presentedthrough content pane 410 may provide indications of one or more insightsor other observations made that correspond to the content beingpresented through content pane 410. Graphical and textual displayelements may include any visual representation of information, includingbut not limited to an icon, a symbol, a mark, a badge, a thumbnail, agraph, a church, a plot, an image, etc. For instance, a graphicaldisplay element may include an icon that overlays a real-world object(e.g., a vehicle, a person, a building, a ship, a tree, a bench, etc.)identified within the content by, for example, intelligent insightengine 500.

Display element logic 320 may be configured to generate and/or providesuch graphical or textual display elements as dynamic elements. Forpurposes of the present disclosure, the term “dynamic” generally refersto a changeability or adjustability of a characteristic. Such acharacteristic may include any conveyable information, which in the caseof a display element, may include but not be limited to hue, saturation,luminance, size, shape, position (e.g., relative position within a paneof the interface), display status (e.g., being displayed or not beingdisplayed), lettering, numbering, spelling, description, etc. Forinstance, extending the icon example above, an icon that overlays areal-world object identified in a series of frames of a video feed maybe dynamic in that it may change positions within content pane 410(e.g., on a frame-by-frame basis) as the real-world object with whichthe icon is associated is shown to move about in the real world sceneduring playback.

Display element logic 320 may be configured to generate and/or providesuch graphical or textual display elements as selectable displayelements. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term “selectable”generally refers to responsiveness of a displayed item to one or moreinputs directed toward the particular displayed item. Suchresponsiveness may include any response that causes a change that wouldotherwise not occur absent the selection. Again, further extending theicon example above, the icon that overlays the video representation of areal-world object in a given frame may be selectable to cause additionalinformation, e.g., information corresponding to the associatedreal-world object, to be shown within the interface.

For instance, a user of user interface 400 may use a computer mouse tohover over or click upon the icon overlaying the real-world object toestablish a selection of the same. Upon selection, display element logic320 may be configured to display additional information about thereal-world object, such as the object's GPS coordinates, a zoomed-inmicro video feed of the object overlaying a portion of the zoomed-outmacro video feed of the object, the name or type of the object, a notemade by another user with respect to such object, analert/suggestion/recommendation with respect to such object, or anyother information. Display element logic 320 may, alone or together withother logic elements, coordinate the display or accessibility of suchadditional information within any area of the interface, e.g., in anyarea within content pane 410, map pane 440, insight pane 450, through amenu item a user must access through a tab or by right-clicking (orother method), or anywhere else within user interface 400.

Referring back now to FIG. 1E, UII component 300 may further beconfigured, via consumption control logic 320, to provide one or morecontent or data consumption to enable a user (e.g., the user accessinguser interface 400 via client computing device 800), to exercise controlover when, what, and how the content accessible via user interface 400is presented. For example, consumption control logic 320 may beconfigured to provide (e.g., through playback control pane 420) one ormore viewer/navigation tools that enable a user to control the viewing,playback, or consumption of the content loaded for presentation throughcontent pane 410. By way of a few nonlimiting examples, viewer toolsmade available through playback control pane 420 may include any one ormore of a full-screen button, a mute button, a play/pause button, a seekslider, a volume slider, a skip button, etc.

Consumption control logic 320 may further be configured to generate arepresentation of a playback time or timeline. For example, consumptioncontrol logic 320 may (e.g., through timeline pane 430) present anindication a playback time or timeline respect to a portion of a givencontent item that was, is, or may be presented within content pane 410.The indication of playback time or timeline may be made relative to alarger segment of the loaded content item. The indication of playbacktime or timeline may be textual and/or graphical. In some instances,indication presented through timeline pane 430 may be a graphical ortextual display element responsive to selection and manipulation by auser. For instance, the indication presented through timeline pane 430may take the form of a virtual slider display element that allows a userto adjust the slider's position along a depicted timeline representation(e.g., a progress bar), and correspondingly adjust the content beingpresented through content pane 410.

In some examples, consumption control logic 320 may cause timeline pane430 to dynamically provide a timeline graphic display elementrepresenting a segment of time associated with a content item.Consumption control logic 320 may further cause timeline pane 432display a time associated with the content being played back at a givenmoment, relative to the total length of time (or a segment of the totallength of time) associated with the content, which may continuouslychange as the content item is being played back. Consumption controllogic 320 may cause timeline pane 430 to provide indications (e.g.,graphical or textual display elements) of insights or other observationsassociated with a particular time frame within a larger segment of thecontent.

In some instances, such indications of insights or other observationsmay be graphically represented in a manner that conveys relative changesof such insights or other observations across a series of smallercontent segments (e.g., 5 second increments) within a larger contentsegment (e.g., 10 minute timeframe) provided within timeline pane 430.For example, the timeline graphic presented in timeline pane 430 maycorrespond to a five minute timeline window of video content (which mayor may not be the entire video file). The time corresponding to thecontent currently being presented may be represented by a line-markerdisplay element overlaying the portion of the timeline graphic displayelement that corresponds to the content being played through contentpane 410 at the current moment. Display elements within the timelinewindow (e.g., the line marker display element) may move positions asplayback of the video content occurs. In some embodiments, the graphicalor textual display elements generated and/or provided via consumptioncontrol logic 320 may be user selectable and adjustable. For example, auser viewing content through content pane 410 may wish to return back toan earlier portion of the video segment, and to do so may click a linemarker (or other display element associated with the current playbacktime), and move the line marker to a different position along thetimeline graphic display element that is associated with the earlierportion of the video segment.

Referring still to FIG. 1E, UII component 300 may further be configured,via user prompted (UP) object/event tagging logic 340, to receive inputfrom a user identifying an object appearing or event occurring withinthe content as represented through content pane 410. For example, in agiven deployment of the technology disclosed herein, it may be desirableto identify various land formations, structures, and animal traffic inan area being surveyed for a possible windmill farm. Tagging logic 340may be configured to allow a user to define one or more identificationtags, and to associate those identification tags with objects or eventsthat are identified or that otherwise appear within the content.

For example, a user reviewing a flyby video recording of the area underconsideration may identify peaks and valleys in the terrain. Duringreview, such user may select the areas associated with such peaks andvalleys (e.g., by clicking on them in their corresponding locations aspresented within content pane 410 during video playback), andsubsequently select the appropriate tag designating such land structures(e.g., a “peak” tag, a “valley” tag, etc.). In another example, such auser may observe one or more animals traveling through the regionrecorded in the user similarly may click on the representation of theanimal in the video recording, and subsequently select the appropriateobject tag (e.g., a “bovine” tag, a “coyote” tag, a “deer” tag, etc.)and/or event tag (e.g., “wild animal gathering,” or “livestock feeding,”etc.).

In connection with tagging logic 340, UII component 300 may further beconfigured, via user prompted (UP) object/event flagging logic 340, toreceive input from a user to flag an identified object or event forfurther review. That is, in some instances a user viewing a video viacontent pane 410 may flag identified objects or events of heightenedinterest, and which they may wish to highlight for further review (e.g.,by a supervisor). For example, a user may observe that a buildingstructure appears in the video content on a particular day, andrecognize that the video content from the week earlier shows no suchbuilding structure. The user may tag the object (e.g., with a “smallbuilding” tag) and the event (e.g., with a “new structure observed”tag), and may further flag the object/event for further review, and mayinclude a flag note (e.g., “new building appears to have been erectedwithout authorization from the landowner”).

Referring still to FIG. 1E, UII component 300 may further be configured,via UP search logic 370, to provide a search field within which a usermay provide input to query a search through a particular content item.User may provide input in any form, for example, free-form text searchqueries, image queries, tag search queries (e.g., selecting tags ofinterest), flag search queries (e.g., selecting tags of interest), andthe like. For instance, extending the examples above, a user may wish toreview only those segments of video within which coyotes appear. Assuch, the user may utilize UII component 300's search tools to selectthe “coyote” tag, and responsively UP search logic 370 may presentabridged content viewing options for the user such that the user mayview only those video segments (e.g., on a frame-by-frame basis) thatinclude at least one object identified as a coyote. UP search logic 370may further be configured to enable the user to threshold their searchquery. That is, a user may qualify or quantify their search in anymanner. Taking the coyote example, the user may utilize the search toolsto not only select the “coyote” tag, but also specify a threshold numberof coyotes to further filter the abridged content results. For instance,such user may specify that they would only like to see those videosegments (e.g., on a frame-by-frame basis) that include at least fivecoyotes (instead of any coyotes at all) within the field-of-view.

Further still, in some embodiments the technology of the presentdisclosure may be implemented to effectuate dimensional determinationswith respect to objects identified within the content. UII component 300may be configured, via UP dimension selection logic 380, to receiveinput from a user designating a distance between two points in the videocontent, and to determine a real-world distance between such points. Forexample, a user observing a video feed within content panel 410 maypause the video on a particular frame, click on a point within the frameand drag the mouse to another point within the frame, and responsivelyUP dimension selection logic 380 may provide a textual display elementproviding a number of inches, feet, yards or other dimensional unitrepresenting the distance between the two points. UP dimension selectionlogic 380 may utilize metadata details included in the content data tomake such determinations. For example, such details may include contentcapture parameters the yaw, pitch, roll, angle, capture distance,pointing direction, and/or other parameters of the sensor (and/or objectto which such sensor is affixed). Such details, which may be embedded asmetadata within content data, may also include information captured by adevice other than the image content capture device, for instance a LiDARdevice, and altimeter, etc.

UII component 300 may further be configured with one or more other logicelements 390 configured to receive information from intelligent insightsengine 500 and to generate and/or provide indications (e.g., graphicalor textual display elements) of one or more insights about the content.Intelligent insights engine 500 may be configured to retrieve andanalyze data acquired by acquisition component 200, and utilize thatdata (alone or together with user inputted data obtained via UIIcomponent 300) to generate an “insight.” As used in the presentdisclosure, an “insight” refers to an intelligent observation ordetection made by system 100 (entirely or partially unaided by a humanuser) that may be relevant to a particular context within which thetechnology is deployed. Together with UII component 300, intelligentinsight engine 500 may make determinations that form the basis of one ormore automated object detections, event detections, tagging and flaggingoperations, alerts, suggestions, recommendations, charts, statisticalanalysis, and/or categorizations relevant within a given context, and asdesired by a given user for a particular application. UII component 300may (e.g., via Insight pane 450) present an indication of any one ormore insights or other observations generated or provided, in whole orin part, by intelligent insights engine 500.

Intelligent Insight Engine

As shown in FIG. 1F, an architecture of an example intelligent insightengine 500 may include detection logic 510, situational awareness logic520, among other logic 530. Detection logic 510 may be configured toidentify objects appearing and/or events occurring within content. Toeffectuate such features, detection logic 510 may include objectdetection logic 511, detected object (DO) confidence logic 512, detectedobject (DO) tagging logic 513, event detection logic 514, detected event(DE) confidence logic 515, detected event (DE) tagging logic 516.

Object detection logic 511 detects features appearing within a givensegment of content (e.g., within a frame of a video recording),identifies discrete candidate objects or feature collections, comparesthe identified discrete candidate objects or feature collections withone or more object templates (accounting for scaling, angle capture,orientation of candidate objects or features in feature collections, andthe like), and determines that the identified discrete candidate objectsor feature collections match an object template within an acceptabledegree of confidence (e.g., a predefined confidence threshold).

DO confidence logic 512 may be configured to operate in concert withobject detection logic 511, and computes a confidence score based on thematch quality between a discrete candidate object (or featurecollection) of interest, and one or more of the object templates. Forexample, if in a given application, system 100 includes object templatescorresponding to a vehicle, an office building, a power plant, and aroadway intersection, object detection logic 511 may analyze videocontent (e.g., on a frame-by-frame basis, on an every nth-frame basis,on a periodic interval of time basis, or other) to identify boundariesbetween surfaces detectable within the video content, and on the basisof such boundaries identify discrete candidate objects for comparison.On the basis of such identification operations the object detectionlogic 511 may determine that there are fifteen discrete candidateobjects, and may cause a comparison to take place between one or more ofthe 15 discrete candidate objects and one or more of object templates.

Extending the foregoing example: object detection logic 511, togetherwith DO confidence logic 512, may determine that thirteen of thediscrete candidate objects do not match any of the object templates witha confidence score greater than a predefined threshold (e.g., confidencescore indicating a greater than 80% match). From among the remainingthree discrete candidate objects, object detection logic 511, togetherwith DO confidence logic 512, may determine that: one of the discretecandidate objects matches the object template corresponding to a vehiclewith, e.g., a confidence score indicating an 87% match; another one ofthe discrete candidate objects matches the object template correspondingto an office building with, e.g., a confidence score indicating a 99%match; and the other one of the discrete candidate objects matches theobject template corresponding to a vehicle with, e.g., a confidencescore indicating a 95% match. In the example implementation (e.g., wherea confidence score indicating a greater than 80% match is required toprovide an object detection), object detection logic 511 may determinethat three of the fifteen identified discrete candidate objects match anobject template with an acceptable degree of confidence to effectuateautomatic tagging of such objects.

DO tagging logic 513 may be configured to receive instruction fromobject detection logic 511 and/or DO confidence logic 512, andresponsively associate the three discrete candidate objects identifiedwith tags corresponding to their identification. For example, in theforegoing scenario, DO tagging logic 513 may receive instruction fromobject detection logic 511 and/or DO confidence logic 512 to associate avehicle tag with the two discrete candidate objects identified as beingvehicles, and an office building tag with the one discrete candidateobject identified as being an office building. Detection logic 510 mayperform the foregoing on a frame by frame basis throughout a videorecording. Alternatively, detection logic 510 may be configured toperform a similarity analysis (e.g., on a frame-by-frame basis) toidentify discrete candidate objects that appear in multiple frames, andpropagate a tag associated with a discrete candidate object in one framethrough two the other frames of sufficient similarity. That is detectionlogic 510 may be configured to track an object from one frame to thenext, and propagate previously determined association of a tag with adiscrete candidate object throughout a video content item. In someembodiments, such tracking functionality is effectuated by leveragingtracking logic 518.

Event detection logic 514 may be configured to detect changes appearingwithin a given segment of content (e.g., within a subset of frames of avideo recording), identifies candidate events based on those detectedchanges, compares the candidate event information with one or more eventtemplates (accounting for scaling, angle capture, orientation ofcandidate objects or features in feature collections, time, and thelike), and determines that a candidate event matches an event templatewithin an acceptable degree of confidence (e.g., a predefined confidencethreshold).

DE confidence logic 515 may be configured to operate in concert withevent detection logic 514, and to compute a confidence score based onthe match quality between the candidate event and one or more of theevent templates. For example, if in a given application, system 100includes a library of event templates corresponding to a “windmilloperating” event, and a “windmill not operating” event. For example,event detection logic 514 may analyze video content (e.g., on aframe-by-frame basis, on an every nth-frame basis, on a periodicinterval of time basis, or other) to identify changes across e.g., afive minute segment of video that are indicative of such events. Forexample, event detection logic may identify changes in the position ofthe blade on a particular windmill from one frame to the next throughoutthe five minute segment of video. Similarly, event detection logic 514may identify that there are no changes in blade position of anotherwindmill within the same video segment for the same period of time.Event detection logic 514 may then compare the candidate eventdetections to the event templates to identify matches.

Event detection logic 511, together with DE confidence logic 515, maydetermine that the first windmill matches the “windmill operating” eventtemplate with a confidence score greater than a predefined threshold(e.g., confidence score indicating a greater than 90% match), and thatthe second windmill matches the “windmill not operating” event templatewith a confidence score indicating a 95% match. In the exampleimplementation, event detection logic 515 may determine that each ofthese two event candidates match an event template with a sufficientdegree of confidence to effectuate automatic tagging of such events.

DE tagging logic 514 may be configured to receive instruction from eventdetection logic 514 and/or DE confidence logic 515, and responsivelyassociate the objects associated with the detected event withcorresponding event tags. For example, in the foregoing scenario, DEtagging logic 516 may receive instruction from event detection logic 514and/or DE confidence logic 515 to associate a “windmill operating” eventtag with the windmill object identified as having spinning blades, and a“windmill not operating” event tag with the windmill object identifiedwith blades at a standstill. Detection logic 510 may perform theforegoing on a frame by frame basis throughout a video recording, andassociate the event tags with the relevant objects giving rise to theevent for each frame for which the event is true. In the event acondition changes, for instance, the working windmill's blades stopspinning, detection logic 510 may then associate a “windmill notoperating” tag with the subset of frames during which the windmill wasdetected to have standstill blades. That is, the event tags associatedwith a given object or set of objects may change over the course of avideo content feed.

Statistical assessment logic 517 may be configured to performstatistical analysis on the basis of object detections and or eventdetections, and may coordinate with UII component 300 to generate orprovide graphical or textual display elements within the user interface400 to represent or otherwise convey such statistical assessments.Statistical assessments performed by statistical assessment logic 517may be as complex or simple as desired for a given application. In someembodiments, statistical assessment logic 517 may count the number ofdetections identified (either by detection logic 510 alone, or incombination with detections identified by a user via UP Object/Eventtagging logic 340), and provide the count as a graphical and/or textualdisplay element within user interface 400. For example, the count may beprovided as simply a total number of such objects that appear throughoutthe entire video file. In another example, the count may be provided ona more granular basis (e.g., on a frame by frame basis, on a second bysecond basis, or N-second by N-second basis, and the like) during videoplayback.

For instance, for purposes of statistical assessment, statisticalassessment logic 517 may consider a video segment in five secondincrements, and may provide a count of the various different objectsdetected within five second increments, and may coordinate with UIIcomponent 300 to display such information in the form of a dynamichistogram chart within the timeline pane 430. Different types of objectsmay be categorized together and the histogram chart provided within thetimeline pane 430 may convey count details for each type of objectidentified. That is, in an example implementation where object detectionlogic 511 was configured to detect vehicles, people, and buildings,statistical assessment logic 517 may count the number of vehicles, thenumber of people, and the number of buildings detected within each fivesecond sub segment of a larger video segment, and may provide ahistogram of such count details within timeline pane 430. UII component300 may adjust an attribute of each type of object such that a user maydifferentiate between the information conveyed. For instance, vehiclesmay be associated with a first color, people may be associated with asecond color, and buildings may be associated with a third color. Anexample of this is illustrated in FIG. 1F.

Tracking logic 518 may be configured to track and identify the objectacross a series of frames, and together with UII component 300, provideand/or generate a graphical display element delineating the objects pathas it moves about within the scene being recorded. For example, if aparticular animal within a scene is of interest (e.g., either because auser has selected it via UP Object/Event tagging logic 340, or becauseit has been identified as an animal of interest via detection logic510), tracking logic 518 may identify the same object in surroundingframes, and generate graphical display elements which, when viewedduring playback of the video, delineate a time-based path of movement ofthe animal throughout the scene. Tracking logic 518 allows intelligentinsight engine 500 two patterns of movement associated with certainobjects, which may later be used to inform an event detection (e.g., viaeven detection logic 514), and/or situational awareness that may triggeran automated flag or notification.

Situational awareness logic 520 may comprise object/event (OE) flagginglogic 522 and notification logic 523. OE flagging logic 522 may beconfigured to determine objects or events of heightened interest, andwhich should be flagged to draw a reviewer's attention upon review(e.g., by a supervisor/human). The determination of such objects orevents may be informed by any information generated by or provided bydetection logic 510 that indicate the occurrence of an event, or thepresence of objects of interest—e.g., the occurrence of events, or thepresence of objects that vary substantially from a predefined,predetermined, or learned pattern associated with a particular areabeing monitored; the occurrence of specific events, or the presence ofspecific objects predefined as being significant enough to warrant aflag or notification, etc.

For instance, in an application designed for agriculturalimplementations, detection logic 510 may be configured to detect thedimensions of a river to monitor seasonal changes in flow rate to makewatershed determinations. Event detection logic 514 may, over the courseof several years of video analysis, learn typical water level ranges fora particular river from one season to the next. The event templates mayinclude, for example, “river flow reached 500 ft.³ per second,” “riverflow reached 600 ft.³ per second,” and so forth. If, however, detectionlogic 510 detects a sudden increase in flow rate from 500 ft.³ persecond to 3000 ft.³ per second, situational awareness logic 520 mayrecognize this as sufficiently atypical to warrant flagging the eventfor additional review and/or generating a notification which, incoordination with UII component 300, may be conveyed to a user via userinterface 400. An event such as the sharp increase in water flow rate inthe foregoing example may be indicative of a flood, dam leakage, orother event causing concern from an agricultural, environmental, safety,or other perspective.

Object/event (OE) flagging logic 522 may be configured to flag therelevant event and provide UII component 300 with any information neededto inform the generation of a graphical or textual flagging displayelement via a user interface 400. Similarly, notification logic 523 maybe configured to provide UII component 300 with any information neededto inform the generation of a graphical or textual notification displayelement via user interface 400. Such notifications may take any form,including but not limited to an alert, a recommendation, a hypothesizedassessment, a suggestion, a warning, or otherwise.

As noted above, various other logic 530 may be provided in connectionwith UII component 300. For example, a computer vision logic may beimplemented where the video content of a particular region has beenrecorded from at least two positions. Computer vision logic may derivestructural features using two or more image frames capturing aparticular region, and generate models of objects that may be utilizedas overlays in other applications or other parts of interface 400. Forinstance, if intelligent insights engine 500 detects a building within ascene, and captures several images from the scene that include the samebuilding from different angles, computer vision logic may leverageparallax based 3D reconstruction algorithms to generate a 3D model ofthe detected building (including its various features, e.g., dimensions,doors, windows, etc.). The model may be used to augment the map displayshown in map pane 410.

In another example, other logic 530 may include occupant logicconfigured to detect a number of individuals within a particular spaceor structure (e.g., a building, a vehicle, a stadium, etc.). Forinstance, if intelligent insights engine 500 detects a building within ascene, occupant logic may be configured to identify the number ofoccupants within the building detected (e.g., based other informationaccessible to system 100, such as heat signature information fromthermal imagery). Occupant logic may further be configured to detectother attributes about occupants (e.g., child/adult distinction,approximate age, identity, etc.).

As noted, intelligent insight engine 500 may be configured with variouslogic to provide highly granular level of analysis that may be presented(via an interactive user interface provided by UII component 300 inaccordance with the present disclosure) to one or more reviewers in acomplete or tailored fashion, on-the-fly as such one or more reviewersreview the content through content respective content panes 410 at theirrespective client computing devices 800.

Referring back now to FIG. 1C, it should be appreciated that any one ormore of network communication links 190 may traverse one or more datanetworks (e.g., Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks) toeffectuate communication between the elements of system 100. A networkcommunication link may be based on a reliable network transport protocolsuch as TCP/IP or the like. A network communication link 190 betweenclient computing devices 800, and devices 110 may be established as andwhen needed, for example, when the device 110 or a client computingdevice 800 at a particular site needs to send data to the other.Alternatively, a network communication link, e.g., any one of networkcommunication links 190 may span the life of a session during which datais sent back and forth between the devices 110 and a user site inmultiple communication exchanges. Either the devices 110 or a clientcomputing device 800 at a user site may initiate establishment of anetwork communication link 190. The network communication link 190 maytraverse a number of intermediary devices (e.g., web servers, cacheservers, proxy servers, content delivery network servers, etc.) betweendevices 110 and the client computing device 800 at the given user site.In this case, the one or more network communication links 190 may beviewed as a logical network communication link made up of a number ofsub-network communication links connecting a client computing device 800to device 110 through the intermediary devices in a network.

Example Interactivity

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of various features that may beimplemented in connection with an intelligent interface through whichthe advanced consumption, insight and interactivity technologies of thepresent disclosure may be provided. In this example, suppose anenvironmental interest group is interested in monitoring the impact thata new windmill farm is having on the animal population in a particulararea. The agricultural group may record video of the area from anoverhead site (e.g., a cell tower, an air balloon, a drone, an airplane,a kite, etc.), and wish to review insights and events pertaining toanimal activity in the area. Content orchestration logic 310 of system100 may retrieve video content collected by the environmental interestgroup, the video content comprising video data of the area of interest.As seen in FIG. 2A, for example, content pane 410 may display videocontent playback of a real world scene being monitored. In FIG. 2A, thereal world scene shown in FIG. 2A includes several vehicles 411 a-c, abuilding 412, roadways 413 a-b, a river 414, various animals 415 a-d,and the windmills 416 a-f.

Content orchestration logic 310 of system 100 may further retrieve mapcontent comprising a map representation of an area encompassing themonitored area, and coordinate the presentation of map data in map pane440 simultaneously with video data in content pane 410 such that themapped region shown in map pane 440 relates to the monitored area in thevideo data that is presented in content pane 410. As seen in FIG. 2A,the map information displayed in map pane 440 corresponds, in part, tothe region of space being displayed in content pane 410. Contentorchestration logic 310 may identify the geographic boundariesassociated with the region of space being presented through content pane410, and determine the corresponding boundaries in the map view shown inmap pane 440. Such boundaries may be reflected by one or more graphicaldisplay elements presented with (or as an overlay upon) the map datapresented in map pane 440. As seen in FIG. 2A, a rectangular outlinegraphical display element 442 is displayed in map pane 4102 delineatethe geographic boundaries associated with the region of space beingpresented through content pane 410.

Though not shown, one or more zoom tools may be provided in connectionwith map pane 440 and content pane 410. A user may selectively zoom inor out of either or both of the map shown in map pane 440, or thecontent shown in content pane 410, and content orchestration logic 310may dynamically modify the display of map information in map pane 440and/or video information in the content pane 410. For instance, a usermay zoom in for a closer look at windmills 416 a-c, and contentorchestration logic 310 may dynamically modify (e.g., reduce) the sizeof the rectangular outline graphical display element 442 such that itcorresponds to the geographic boundaries of the smaller space now beingdisplayed in 410 as a consequence of the zoom in operation.

In some embodiments the user may optionally select to lock the size ofgraphical display element 442 relative to the map pane, or lock therelative positioning within the pane where the graphical display element442 appears.

In the case where the user locks the size of the graphical displayelement 442 relative to the map pane, in the above example where theuser zooms in for a closer look at windmills 416 a-c, contentorchestration logic 310 may dynamically modify (e.g., reduce) the sizeof the mapped region being displayed in map pane 410 (instead ofchanging the size of the rectangular outline graphical display element442) such that the space falling within the locked size graphicaldisplay element 442 corresponds to the geographic boundaries of thesmaller space now being displayed in 410 as a consequence of the zoom inoperation.

In the case where the user locks the relative positioning of thegraphical display element 442 within the pane, content orchestrationlogic 310 may dynamically modify (e.g., shift and reduce) the mappedregion being displayed in map pane 410 such that the graphical displayelement 442 may corresponds to a shifted geographic boundary being shownin content pane 410 but still maintain its position within the map pane410. FIG. 2A illustrates the graphical display element 442 as beingroughly horizontally centered but not vertically centered (i.e., it ispositioned closer to the top of the map pane 440 than the bottom of mappane 440). Some users may prefer instead that the graphical displayelement 442 appear to be centered both vertically and horizontallywithin the map pane 440, or centered vertically but not necessarilyhorizontally, or appear to be located within a particular quadrant ofthe map pane. Any such customizations may be enabled via user selectableoptions through the interactive interface 400, and effectuated in wholeor in part via content orchestration logic 310.

As further shown in FIG. 2A, insights pane 450 may, via operation of UIIcomponent 300, present an indication of any one or more insights orother observations generated or provided, in whole or in part, byintelligent insights engine 500. For example, as shown, insights pane450 may include various tabs (e.g., details tab, overlays tab, etc.)within which to provide one or more insights, observations, and optionsto display such insights and observations throughout the interface. Asshown in the depicted example, for instance, intelligent insights engine500 may be configured to provide insights within zone 452 in connectionwith detected (and/or tagged) objects such as windmills, animals,vehicles, buildings, and rivers appearing within a given video recordedscene. Zone 452 may provide an indication of the count of such detectedobjects within the scene that is being played back at a given moment.Zone 452 may also provide selectable options to show one or moregraphical display elements corresponding to the detected objects withinthe scene.

For instance, if selected (via checkable box, for example), a circleshaped display object may be shown in content pane 410 over or adjacentto each detected and tagged windmill; if selected, a star shaped displayobject may be shown in content pane 410 over or adjacent to eachdetected and tagged animal; if selected, a square shaped display objectmay be shown in content pane 410 over or adjacent to each detected andtagged vehicle; if selected, a triangle shaped display object may beshown in content pane 410 over or adjacent to each detected and taggedbuilding; and, if selected, a diamond shaped display object may be shownin content pane 410 over or adjacent to each detected and tagged river.In the example depicted in FIG. 2A, a user has selected only the“Animals” object category, and as such only star display objects aredisplayed overlying the four detected animals 415 a-d being shown in thescene displayed through content pane 410.

Although the depicted example shows the graphical display elementsassociated with different objects having different shapes, this notrequired. Any visual attributes may be used to define a graphicaldisplay element for overlay within content pane 410. For instance, allof the graphical display elements may be the same shape but havedifferent color (e.g., windmills identified by a red circular graphicaldisplay element, animals identified by a green circular graphicaldisplay element, vehicles identified by a blue circular graphicaldisplay element, etc.). Moreover, visual attributes may also be used torepresent a confidence score (e.g., via DO confidence logic 512)indicating match quality between a discrete candidate object and one ormore of the object templates. For instance, taking the example ofcolored circles being used as the graphical display elements foroverlay, the hue, saturation, or luminance of the colors shown may beused to represent a higher or lower confidence score. For instance, abright red colored circle display element might be shown over a windmillthat was detected with a high confidence score, while a faded redcolored circle might be shown over a windmill that was detected with alow confidence score.

Also as shown in FIG. 2A, insights pane 450 may include a coordinateszone 450 to display various GPS coordinates (or coordinates of anothercoordinate system) associated with the scene as shown in content pane410 during playback. By way of example only, coordinates zone 450 maydisplay the GPS coordinates associated with the center of the imagebeing shown in the content pane 450, or the GPS coordinates associatedwith the real-world location corresponding to the position of the user'scursor 470 within content pane 410, or the GPS coordinates associatedwith one or more of the detected objects (e.g. upon selection by auser).

Also as shown in FIG. 2A, insights pane 450 may include an event detailszone 454 wherein a description or other indication of a detected eventmay be displayed. As noted above, event detection logic 514 may beconfigured to detect changes appearing within a given segment of content(e.g., within a subset of frames of a video recording), identifycandidate events based on those detected changes, and compare thecandidate event information with one or more event templates (e.g.,accounting for scaling, angle capture, orientation of candidate objectsor features in feature collections, time, and the like), and determinesthat a candidate event matches an event template within an acceptabledegree of confidence (e.g., a predefined confidence threshold). If sucha detection is made, a description of the event, or an indication thatan event has been detected, may be displayed within event details zone454.

Also as shown in FIG. 2A, insights pane 450 may include a view anglezone 455 depicting a graphical illustration of the various angles ordirections from which the video content was recorded throughout therecording. As noted above, system 100 may be configured to obtainvarious details about image capture parameters (e.g., yaw, pitch, roll,angle, distance, pointing direction, and/or other parameters of thecapturing sensor (and/or object to which such sensor is affixed)). Assuch, system 100 may be configured to generate and display, through viewangle zone 455, a distribution or indication of the angles or directionsfrom which the video content in the given video file was recorded. Asshown, such visual indications may be shown on a view direction dialthat shows a distribution of the most common directions from which thevideo footage of a particular area was recorded. As shown, based on thehigh to low activity grayscale key, it appears that for the videocontent being played back, most of the video was recorded with thesensor's view field pointed North and South, and with some of the videohaving been recorded with the sensor's view field pointing substantiallyNorth and slightly East, or substantially North and slightly West inaccordance with the distribution shown, and with some of the videohaving been recorded with the sensor's view field pointing substantiallySouth and slightly East, or substantially South and slightly West inaccordance with the distribution shown, and little-to-no video contenthaving been recorded with the sensor's view field pointing East or West.

Also as shown in FIG. 2A, playback control pane 420 may, via consumptioncontrol logic 320, provide one or more viewer/navigation tools 421 thatenable the user to control the viewing, playback, or consumption of thecontent loaded for presentation through content pane 410. As shown, andby way of a few nonlimiting examples, the viewer/navigation tools madeavailable through playback control pane 420 may include a play/pausebutton, a skip forward button, a skip backward button, among otherbuttons.

Also as shown in FIG. 2A, timeline pane 430 may display one or moreinsight indications or other observations in a graphical representationthat conveys relative changes of such insights or other observationsacross a series of smaller content segments (e.g., 6 minute increments)within a larger content segment (e.g. 6 hour timeframe) in a 24 hourvideo file. For example, to convey these indications, system 100 maygenerate a histogram chart to represent the count of certain one or moreobjects detected within the scene at a corresponding time.

For example, statistical assessment logic 517 may consider a videosegment in six minute increments, and may compute a count of the variousdifferent objects detected within such six second increments, and maycoordinate with UII component 300 to display such information in theform of a dynamic histogram chart within the timeline pane 430. In theexample shown, the histogram chart shows the count of the objectsselected within zone 452 (by way of example, only), here, the count ofanimals detected. With this feature, a reviewing user may quicklyidentify areas of interest based on the count of a particular detectedobject. For instance, a user viewing timeline pane 430 may note thatthere was a dramatic drop in the number of animal detections at aroundhour 06:00:00 in the video file, and may slide line marker 431 to theleft to review the segment of video feed just prior to and after thedramatic drop from fifteen animal detections to zero animal detectionsthat occurred within a roughly six minute time segment. The user may doso in order to view what else was occurring in the recorded scene atthis time that could have caused the animals to have abruptly left thespace. This may allow the user to identify, tag, and/or flag events fora second level of review. For instance, the user may see that during thetimeframe from 05:54:00-06:00:00 a sudden wind force began that causedthe windmills to operate at an inordinately high frequency thatirritated the animals, causing them to leave. In addition to the usermaking such observations, the intelligent insights engine may also beconfigured to detect, tag, and flag such events, as discussed herein. Anexample of this is show in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2B extends the illustration provided in FIG. 2A to illustratevarious additional example features, including event flagging, that maybe implemented in connection with a user interface through which theadvanced consumption, insight and interactivity technologies of thepresent disclosure may be provided. As shown in FIG. 2B, athumbnails/snapshots 434 of particular frames that correspond todetected events may be provided within interface 400. A reviewing usermay click or otherwise select such a thumbnail to quickly navigate to aportion of the video content that corresponds to the event flag. Theevent flag indication may also include a representation of a preciseposition 435 within the timeline where the detected event commenced, forexample. Such thumbnails/snapshots 434 and other positionrepresentations 435 may be provided via an automated detection andflagging operation performed by intelligent insights engine 500 (asdiscussed herein), or via user input (where a user makes an observationnot otherwise detected or flagged by intelligent insights engine 500).

FIG. 2C extends the illustration provided in FIG. 2A to illustratevarious additional example features that may be implemented inconnection with a user interface through which the advanced consumption,insight and interactivity technologies of the present disclosure may beprovided. In particular, FIG. 2C illustrates another optional tab (e.g.,an overlays tab) that may be provided within insights pane 450 to enablea user to selectively display one or more overlays (in addition to theobject detection overlays discussed above with reference to FIG. 2A(e.g., under the details tab). Such overlays may include an overlay ofany feature that has some relation to the scene being viewed in contentpane 410.

In the example shown in FIG. 2C, the overlays tab may provide forselection of an object tracking overlay, a heatmap overlay, a sewage/gasline overlay, a property line overlay, or any other overlay desired forthe given application (and made accessible to system 100). A user mayselect which of the provided overlays he/she would like to havedisplayed within content pane 410 and/or map pane 440. For instance, inthe illustrated example of FIG. 2C, the object tracking overlay has beenselected (with the remaining overlays unselected, for example) and thecontent pane 410 therefore shows the path information that intelligentinsight engine 500 gathered for objects shown within the scene. Forsimplicity, the depiction in FIG. 2C only shows tracking information forthe animals 415 a-d (represented as dotted lines along the path theanimal traveled leading up to their position in the current frame beingplayed back). Such tracking features may be provided, as discussedherein, by tracking logic 518. Tracking logic 518 can be configured totrack and identify objects of interest across a series of frames, andtogether with UII component 300, provide and/or generate a graphicaldisplay element delineating the objects path as it moves about withinthe scene being recorded. Though not shown in FIG. 2C, content pane mayalso display any other overlays selected by the user (e.g.,heatmap/thermal map overlay, sewage/gas line overlay, property lineoverlay, or any other attribute of interest and made accessible tosystem 100).

FIG. 2D extends the illustration provided in FIG. 2A to illustrate thatsystem 100 may be configured so that various example features providedin connection with intelligent insights engine 500 may also besupplemented or provided by input from a user. For example, as shown inFIG. 2D, a user may right click on an object within a scene to access adropdown menu 419 of options including, for example, one or more of adistance measure option, a tag or flag object option (or a location thatis not an object), a tag or flag event option, a tag or flag observationoption, a take snapshot option, a train IIE 500 option. The trainintelligent insights engine 500 may be provided to enable a user to aidthe system in learning and adjusting its criteria for object and eventdetection. For instance, if during review of the video content the usernotices that there is an animal 415 e within the scene that theintelligent insights engine 500 did not detect, the user may hover theircursor over the animal 415 e while right clicking (or other selection)to display the dropdown menu 419, then expand the menu under the TrainIIE item and select the “Animal” option to tag the animal 415 e as ananimal within the video content. Not only may the system 100store/display the tag during a later review of the video content, butintelligent insights engine 500 may identify features of the selectedobject that it may consider in making future detections of “Animal” typeobjects in the future. In this way, the intelligent insights engine 500may learn from user input, and become more intelligent with increaseduse. The user may also be enabled to define a new object type fromwithin the drop-down menu, as shown in FIG. 2D.

Example Methods

FIG. 3A is a flow chart illustrating example method 910 that may beperformed to effectuate intelligent monitoring in accordance withvarious embodiments. At operation 912, method 910 involves obtainingimage information representing an environment. Such information may beobtained for at least the purpose of provide the image information fordisplay on at least one computing device. At operation 913, method 920involves identifying one or more discrete objects observed within theimage information. At operation 914, method 920 involves classifying theone or more discrete objects based on the image information (e.g., incomparison with an object template among a library of object templates).At operation 915, method 920 involves generating a graphic representingthe classified one or more discrete objects observed within theenvironment. At operation 916, method 910 may involve determining, basedon the image information, that an event condition or a notificationcondition associated with the discrete object has been satisfied.

FIG. 3B is a flow chart illustrating example method 920 that may beperformed to effectuate intelligent monitoring in accordance withvarious embodiments. At operation 922, method 920 involves obtainingimage information representing an environment. Such information may beobtained for at least the purpose of provide the image information fordisplay on at least one computing device. At operation 923, method 920involves identifying one or more discrete objects observed within theimage information. At operation 924, method 920 involves tracking thepath of one or more discrete objects over a period of time (e.g., acrossa plurality of image frames in the image information). Other embodimentsmay involve tracking location information, path information, and heatsignature information associated with the discrete objects. Theoperation 925, method 920 involves generating a graphic representing thepath of one or more discrete objects observed within the environment.Though not shown in FIG. 4B, method 920 may further involve classifyingthe one or more discrete objects based on the image information incomparison with an object template among a library of object templates;generating a graphic representing the identity or location of one ormore discrete objects observed within the environment; and/or displaythe graphic as an overlay on top of the displayed image information,wherein the graphic is provided over a location on the displayed imageinformation corresponding to the location of the discrete object withinthe environment at the time the image information was captured. Someimplementations of method 920 may further include determining, based onthe tracking, that an event condition associated with the discreteobject has been satisfied.

Example Computer System

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of an example computer system 1000 inwhich any of the embodiments described herein may be implemented. Thecomputer system 1000 includes a bus 1002 or other communicationmechanism for communicating information, one or more hardware processors1004 coupled with bus 1002 for processing information. Hardwareprocessor(s) 1004 may be, for example, one or more general purposemicroprocessors.

The computer system 1000 also includes a main memory 1006, such as arandom access memory (RAM), cache and/or other dynamic storage devices,coupled to bus 1002 for storing information and instructions to beexecuted by processor 1004. Main memory 1006 also may be used forstoring temporary variables or other intermediate information duringexecution of instructions to be executed by processor 1004. Suchinstructions, when stored in storage media accessible to processor 1004,render computer system 1000 into a special-purpose machine that iscustomized to perform the operations specified in the instructions.

The computer system 1000 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 1008or other static storage device coupled to bus 1002 for storing staticinformation and instructions for processor 1004. A storage device 1010,such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, or USB thumb drive (Flash drive),etc., is provided and coupled to bus 1002 for storing information andinstructions.

The computer system 1000 may be coupled via bus 1002 to a display 1012,such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or LCD display (or touch screen), fordisplaying information to a computer user. An input device 1014,including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to bus 1002 forcommunicating information and command selections to processor 1004.Another type of user input device is cursor control 1016, such as amouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating directioninformation and command selections to processor 1004 and for controllingcursor movement on display 1012. This input device typically has twodegrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis(e.g., y), that allows the device to specify positions in a plane. Insome embodiments, the same direction information and command selectionsas cursor control may be implemented via receiving touches on a touchscreen without a cursor.

The computing system 1000 may include a user interface module toimplement a GUI that may be stored in a mass storage device asexecutable software codes that are executed by the computing device(s).This and other modules may include, by way of example, components, suchas software components, object-oriented software components, classcomponents and task components, processes, functions, attributes,procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware,microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays,and variables.

In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodiedin hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions,possibly having entry and exit points, written in a programminglanguage, such as, for example, Java, C or C++. A software module may becompiled and linked into an executable program, installed in a dynamiclink library, or may be written in an interpreted programming languagesuch as, for example, BASIC, Perl, or Python. It will be appreciatedthat software modules may be callable from other modules or fromthemselves, and/or may be invoked in response to detected events orinterrupts. Software modules configured for execution on computingdevices may be provided on a computer readable medium, such as a compactdisc, digital video disc, flash drive, magnetic disc, or any othertangible medium, or as a digital download (and may be originally storedin a compressed or installable format that requires installation,decompression or decryption prior to execution). Such software code maybe stored, partially or fully, on a memory device of the executingcomputing device, for execution by the computing device. Softwareinstructions may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will befurther appreciated that hardware modules may be comprised of connectedlogic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and/or may be comprised ofprogrammable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. Themodules or computing device functionality described herein arepreferably implemented as software modules, but may be represented inhardware or firmware. Generally, the modules described herein refer tological modules that may be combined with other modules or divided intosub-modules despite their physical organization or storage.

The computer system 1000 may implement the techniques described hereinusing customized hard-wired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmwareand/or program logic which in combination with the computer systemcauses or programs computer system 1000 to be a special-purpose machine.According to one embodiment, the techniques herein are performed bycomputer system 1000 in response to processor(s) 1004 executing one ormore sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory1006. Such instructions may be read into main memory 1006 from anotherstorage medium, such as storage device 1010. Execution of the sequencesof instructions contained in main memory 1006 causes processor(s) 1004to perform the process steps described herein. In alternativeembodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or incombination with software instructions.

The term “non-transitory media,” and similar terms, as used hereinrefers to any media that store data and/or instructions that cause amachine to operate in a specific fashion. Such non-transitory media maycomprise non-volatile media and/or volatile media. Non-volatile mediaincludes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device1010. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 1006.Common forms of non-transitory media include, for example, a floppydisk, a flexible disk, hard disk, solid state drive, magnetic tape, orany other magnetic data storage medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical datastorage medium, any physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, aPROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, NVRAM, any other memory chip orcartridge, and networked versions of the same.

Non-transitory media is distinct from but may be used in conjunctionwith transmission media. Transmission media participates in transferringinformation between non-transitory media. For example, transmissionmedia includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, includingthe wires that comprise bus 1002. Transmission media can also take theform of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated duringradio-wave and infra-red data communications.

Various forms of media may be involved in carrying one or more sequencesof one or more instructions to processor 1004 for execution. Forexample, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk orsolid state drive of a remote computer. The remote computer can load theinstructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over atelephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 1000 canreceive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitterto convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector canreceive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriatecircuitry can place the data on bus 1002. Bus 1002 carries the data tomain memory 1006, from which processor 1004 retrieves and executes theinstructions. The instructions received by main memory 1006 mayretrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received bymain memory 1006 may optionally be stored on storage device 1010 eitherbefore or after execution by processor 1004.

The computer system 1000 also includes a communication interface 1018coupled to bus 1002. Network interface 1018 provides a two-way datacommunication coupling to one or more network links that are connectedto one or more local networks. For example, communication interface 1018may be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, cable modem,satellite modem, or a modem to provide a data communication connectionto a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, networkinterface 1018 may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a datacommunication connection to a compatible LAN (or WAN component tocommunicated with a WAN). Wireless links may also be implemented. In anysuch implementation, network interface 1018 sends and receiveselectrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital datastreams representing various types of information.

A network link typically provides data communication through one or morenetworks to other data devices. For example, a network link may providea connection through local network to a host computer or to dataequipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP inturn provides data communication services through the world wide packetdata communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet.”Local network and Internet both use electrical, electromagnetic oroptical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through thevarious networks and the signals on network link and throughcommunication interface 1018, which carry the digital data to and fromcomputer system 1000, are example forms of transmission media.

The computer system 1000 can send messages and receive data, includingprogram code, through the network(s), network link and communicationinterface 1018. In the Internet example, a server might transmit arequested code for an application program through the Internet, the ISP,the local network and the communication interface 1018.

The received code may be executed by processor 1004 as it is received,and/or stored in storage device 1010, or other non-volatile storage forlater execution.

Each of the processes, methods, and algorithms described in thepreceding sections may be embodied in, and fully or partially automatedby, code modules executed by one or more computer systems or computerprocessors comprising computer hardware. The processes and algorithmsmay be implemented partially or wholly in application-specificcircuitry.

The various features and processes described above may be usedindependently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. Allpossible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall withinthe scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method or processblocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods and processesdescribed herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, andthe blocks or states relating thereto can be performed in othersequences that are appropriate. For example, described blocks or statesmay be performed in an order other than that specifically disclosed, ormultiple blocks or states may be combined in a single block or state.The example blocks or states may be performed in serial, in parallel, orin some other manner. Blocks or states may be added to or removed fromthe disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and componentsdescribed herein may be configured differently than described. Forexample, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged comparedto the disclosed example embodiments.

Engines, Components, and Logic

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, engines, or mechanisms. Engines may constitute eithersoftware engines (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium) orhardware engines. A “hardware engine” is a tangible unit capable ofperforming certain operations and may be configured or arranged in acertain physical manner. In various example embodiments, one or morecomputer systems (e.g., a standalone computer system, a client computersystem, or a server computer system) or one or more hardware engines ofa computer system (e.g., a processor or a group of processors) may beconfigured by software (e.g., an application or application portion) asa hardware engine that operates to perform certain operations asdescribed herein.

In some embodiments, a hardware engine may be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware engine may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations. For example, ahardware engine may be a special-purpose processor, such as aField-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC). A hardware engine may also includeprogrammable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configured bysoftware to perform certain operations. For example, a hardware enginemay include software executed by a general-purpose processor or otherprogrammable processor. Once configured by such software, hardwareengines become specific machines (or specific components of a machine)uniquely tailored to perform the configured functions and are no longergeneral-purpose processors. It will be appreciated that the decision toimplement a hardware engine mechanically, in dedicated and permanentlyconfigured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g.,configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations.

Accordingly, the phrase “hardware engine” should be understood toencompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or toperform certain operations described herein. As used herein,“hardware-implemented engine” refers to a hardware engine. Consideringembodiments in which hardware engines are temporarily configured (e.g.,programmed), each of the hardware engines need not be configured orinstantiated at any one instance in time. For example, where a hardwareengine comprises a general-purpose processor configured by software tobecome a special-purpose processor, the general-purpose processor may beconfigured as respectively different special-purpose processors (e.g.,comprising different hardware engines) at different times. Softwareaccordingly configures a particular processor or processors, forexample, to constitute a particular hardware engine at one instance oftime and to constitute a different hardware engine at a differentinstance of time.

Hardware engines can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware engines. Accordingly, the described hardwareengines may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multiplehardware engines exist contemporaneously, communications may be achievedthrough signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses)between or among two or more of the hardware engines. In embodiments inwhich multiple hardware engines are configured or instantiated atdifferent times, communications between such hardware engines may beachieved, for example, through the storage and retrieval of informationin memory structures to which the multiple hardware engines have access.For example, one hardware engine may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware engine may then, at a latertime, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware engines may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented enginesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions describedherein. As used herein, “processor-implemented engine” refers to ahardware engine implemented using one or more processors.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a particular processor or processors beingan example of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations ofa method may be performed by one or more processors orprocessor-implemented engines. Moreover, the one or more processors mayalso operate to support performance of the relevant operations in a“cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS).For example, at least some of the operations may be performed by a groupof computers (as examples of machines including processors), with theseoperations being accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet) and viaone or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an Application ProgramInterface (API)).

The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe processors, not only residing within a single machine, but deployedacross a number of machines. In some example embodiments, the processorsor processor-implemented engines may be located in a single geographiclocation (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment, or aserver farm). In other example embodiments, the processors orprocessor-implemented engines may be distributed across a number ofgeographic locations.

Language

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implementcomponents, operations, or structures described as a single instance.Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustratedand described as separate operations, one or more of the individualoperations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that theoperations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures andfunctionality presented as separate components in example configurationsmay be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly,structures and functionality presented as a single component may beimplemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of thesubject matter herein.

Although an overview of the subject matter has been described withreference to specific example embodiments, various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Such embodimentsof the subject matter may be referred to herein, individually orcollectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and withoutintending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to anysingle disclosure or concept if more than one is, in fact, disclosed.

The embodiments illustrated herein are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed.Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, such thatstructural and logical substitutions and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. The Detailed Description,therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope ofvarious embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along withthe full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

It will be appreciated that an “engine,” “system,” “data store,” and/or“database” may comprise software, hardware, firmware, and/or circuitry.In one example, one or more software programs comprising instructionscapable of being executable by a processor may perform one or more ofthe functions of the engines, data stores, databases, or systemsdescribed herein. In another example, circuitry may perform the same orsimilar functions. Alternative embodiments may comprise more, less, orfunctionally equivalent engines, systems, data stores, or databases, andstill be within the scope of present embodiments. For example, thefunctionality of the various systems, engines, data stores, and/ordatabases may be combined or divided differently.

As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in either an inclusive orexclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be provided forresources, operations, or structures described herein as a singleinstance. Additionally, boundaries between various resources,operations, engines, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary,and particular operations are illustrated in a context of specificillustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality areenvisioned and may fall within a scope of various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In general, structures and functionality presentedas separate resources in the example configurations may be implementedas a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures andfunctionality presented as a single resource may be implemented asseparate resources. These and other variations, modifications,additions, and improvements fall within a scope of embodiments of thepresent disclosure as represented by the appended claims. Thespecification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or“may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understoodwithin the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certainfeatures, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is notgenerally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are inany way required for one or more embodiments or that one or moreembodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without userinput or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps areincluded or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration based on what is currently considered to be the mostpractical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood thatsuch detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combinedwith one or more features of any other embodiment.

Other implementations, uses and advantages of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of thespecification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thespecification should be considered exemplary only, and the scope of theinvention is accordingly intended to be limited only by the followingclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for intelligently monitoring anenvironment, comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe system to: obtain image information representing an environment;provide the image information for display on at least one device;identify, based on the image information, one or more discrete objectsobserved within the environment; classify, based on the imageinformation in comparison with an object template, the one or morediscrete objects; generate a graphic representing the one or morediscrete objects observed within the environment; and display thegraphic as an overlay on top of the displayed image information, whereinthe graphic is provided over a location on the displayed imageinformation corresponding to the location of the discrete object withinthe environment at the time the image information was captured.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the memory stored instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, further causes the system to:track one or more of location information, path information, and heatsignature information associated with the one or more discrete objectsover a period of time; and determine, based on the tracking, that anevent condition associated with the discrete object has been satisfied.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stored instructions that,when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the systemto: determine that a notification condition associated with the discreteobject has been satisfied; and modify the graphic based on one or moreof the classification and the notification condition determination. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stored instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, further causes the system to:provide, responsive to a user selection of the graphic, a modified viewof a portion of the image information corresponding to a cropped zonewithin the environment surrounding the identified discrete object. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stored instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, further causes the system to:estimate a real-world dimensions of a portion of at least one of theidentified discrete objects.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thememory stored instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further causes the system to: provide, responsive to a userselection of at least two points corresponding to locations within theimage information provided for display on a device, an estimatedreal-world distance between the at least two points.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the memory stored instructions that, when executed bythe one or more processors, further causes the system to: provide theimage information for display on at least two devices operated by twodifferent users; receive, from one of the at least two devices, atagging command corresponding to at least one of the discrete objectsidentified in the image information; provide, at the others of the atleast to devices, an indication of the tagging command.
 8. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the memory stored instructions that, when executed bythe one or more processors, further causes the system to: compute anumber of discrete objects of a single classification identified withina portion of the image information.
 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe memory stored instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further causes the system to: compute a confidence score forthe classification of the at least one identified discrete objects. 10.The system of claim 1, wherein the graphic represents a classificationof the one or more discrete objects observed within the environment. 11.The system of claim 1, wherein the graphic comprises a visual attributeproviding an indication of a confidence score associated with theidentified discrete object.
 12. A method being implemented by acomputing system including one or more physical processors and storagemedia storing machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:obtaining image information representing an environment; providing theimage information for display on at least one device; identifying, basedon the image information, one or more discrete objects observed withinthe environment; classifying, based on the image information incomparison with an object template, the one or more discrete objects;generating a graphic representing the one or more discrete objectsobserved within the environment; and displaying the graphic as anoverlay on top of the displayed image information, wherein the graphicis provided over a location on the displayed image informationcorresponding to the location of the discrete object within theenvironment at the time the image information was captured.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: tracking one or more of locationinformation, path information, and heat signature information associatedwith the one or more discrete objects over a period of time; anddetermining, based on the tracking, that an event condition associatedwith the discrete object has been satisfied.
 14. The method of claim 12,further comprising: determining that a notification condition associatedwith the discrete object has been satisfied; and modifying the graphicbased on one or more of the classification and the notificationcondition determination.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:providing, responsive to a user selection of the graphic, a modifiedview of a portion of the image information corresponding to a croppedzone within the environment surrounding the identified discrete object.16. The method of claim 12, further comprising: estimating a real-worlddimensions of a portion of at least one of the identified discreteobjects.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing,responsive to a user selection of at least two points corresponding tolocations within the image information provided for display on a device,an estimated real-world distance between the at least two points. 18.The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing the imageinformation for display on at least two devices operated by twodifferent users; receiving, from one of the at least two devices, atagging command corresponding to at least one of the discrete objectsidentified in the image information; providing, at the others of the atleast to devices, an indication of the tagging command.
 19. The methodof claim 12, further comprising: computing a number of discrete objectsof a single classification identified within a portion of the imageinformation.
 20. The method of claim 12, further comprising: computing aconfidence score for the classification of the at least one identifieddiscrete objects.
 21. The method of claim 12, wherein the graphicrepresents a classification of the one or more discrete objects observedwithin the environment.
 22. The method of claim 12, wherein the graphiccomprises a visual attribute providing an indication of a confidencescore associated with the identified discrete object.